DAY ONE - Wednesday, June 21, 2023
9:00am | Registration Opens
9:30am - 10:00am | Welcome Remarks
10:00am - 11:00am | Opening Keynote Session
Farm to Table: A Foosic Experience
Join us for an interactive experience where Chef T incorporates learning with the fun of music! Self-sustainability or the art thereof is our new destination in nutrition, so enjoy this presentation on the journey of nutrition, where we are now and where the future in food is going.
Key Area:
Operations
Speaker:
Tanisha Carter, Director of Child Nutrition, Maureen Joy Charter School
VIEW THE PRESENTATION >
PUMPKIN MUFFIN SQUARE RECIPE >
11:00am - 12:00pm | Lunch
12:00pm - 1:00pm | Educational Sessions
CEP 101
Join us for a 1-hour training session and learn everything you need to know about the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). CEP is an alternative to collecting, approving and verifying household eligibility applications for free and reduced price eligible students in high poverty local educational agencies (LEAs) for schools participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. Whether your school currently participates in CEP or would like to in the future, this session has all the information you need!
Key Area:
Administration
Speaker:
Abbey Johnson, Principal Consultant, Illinois State Board of Education
Sustainable Curriculum for Kids
How can we get our kids involved in knowing the importance of nutrition and interested in their own equity in food? Chef T has created a mini curriculum to guide our kids into their own food future!
Key Area:
Nutrition
Speaker:
Tanisha Carter, Director of Child Nutrition, Maureen Joy Charter School
Breakfast Panel: Increase Participation
Increasing breakfast participation in schools has always been a hot topic, but the need for new ideas and support is even greater post-pandemic. Where did all of our breakfast participation go? How do we creatively market school breakfast and offer menu items that kids want? Where can we turn to for extra support and funding? Join this interactive session to hear from your peers on how they have increased breakfast participation in their districts and how you can access grant money to support your breakfast initiatives!
Key Area:
Operations
Speakers:
1:15pm - 1:45pm | Educational Sessions
Kitchen Efficiencies
Do you ever think that maybe a process in your kitchen could be completed in a faster or less complicated way? The best way to enhance your operational skills is by connecting with others who bring each of their unique experiences to the table. Join this session to hear from Margo Gusman, Marquardt School District 15's Central Kitchen Manager, as she shares the processes she utilizes in her complex operation to make everything run smooth and efficiently! Connect with others as Margo gives an opportunity for attendees to share their own efficiencies too!
Key Area:
Operations
Speaker:
Margo Gusman, Food Service Manager, Marquardt SD 15
VIEW THE PRESENTATION >
Utilizing School Nutrition Interns
The school nutrition field is facing many challenges: a complex staffing crisis, increased movement and retirement of directors and a workload that reminds us there just aren’t enough hours in a day! While these challenges may never completely subside, there is a win-win solution that benefits both SNPs and nutrition/dietetic students. Join this class to learn how utilizing school nutrition interns can not only fill staffing needs but allow SNPs to do all the things they wish they had time for. And most importantly, learn how this valuable partnership can create future SNPs by exposing them to all the amazing things that make school nutrition so unique!
Key Area:
Administration
Speaker:
1:55pm - 2:25pm | Educational Sessions
5 Tips for Filling Open Positions NOW!
Are you out of ideas on how to fill the many open positions within your kitchens? This session will provide you with best practices for recruiting, hiring and retaining.
Key Area:
Administration
Speakers:
Meghan Gibbons, Director of Nutrition Services, Valley View CSD 365-U
Local Food for Schools (LFS) Funding Opportunity!
Join ISBE staff for an introduction to an exciting funding opportunity for schools to purchase local foods to serve in their meal programs. This session will include information on what LFS is, LFS requirements and how to apply.
Key Area:
Operations
Speaker:
2:40pm - 3:40pm | Educational Sessions
SNF LEAD to Succeed™ - Listening Habits
Listening is a critical component to effective communication. This 1-hour training explores participants' listening habits and provides tools and techniques to help improve conversations in the workplace. Specifically, participants will learn about the four levels of communication and will explore the productive listening learning model to improve their personal listening habits.
Key Area:
Communications/Marketing
Speaker:
Sandra Voss, Food Services Director, Arlington Heights SD 25
Get More From Your Equipment: Tips for Care & Preventative Maintenance
In this training, Tanya covers the primary categories of kitchen equipment (cooking, holding, refrigeration, prep and serving) and discusses the most common failures associated with each. She instructs participants on care and maintenance best practices to prevent these failures, reduce service calls and downtime, and extend equipment life.
Key Area(s):
Operations
Speaker:
Acing Your School Nutrition Program Review
A School Nutrition Program review is coming. If there ever was a time to be proactive about review preparation – it's right now. The dust has settled from the pandemic, and everything is back to normal, regulation wise, in the School Nutrition Program. So, join us as we give you the tools and resources to help you prepare to ace your next School Nutrition Program review.
Key Area:
Administration
Speaker:
Kim Nesler, Principal Consultant, Illinois State Board of Education
Kari Perkins, Principal Consultant, Illinois State Board of Education
3:55pm - 4:25pm | Educational Sessions
Start Small with Scratch Cooking
The first obstacle SNPs face when considering scratch cooking is an "all-or-nothing" mindset; no wonder why many SNPs start listing off why they CAN'T do any scratching cooking! Attendees will hear from the Assistant Director and Central Kitchen Manager from Marquardt School District 15 and see the collaboration and creativity it takes to successfully implement scratch cooking. Join this session as this duo encourages attendees to rethink scratch cooking and how to start out small for sustainable success!
Key Area:
Operations
Speaker:
Maribel Alchin, Assistant Director of Food & Nutrition Services, Marquardt SD 15
Margo Gusman, Food Service Manager, Marquardt SD 15
VIEW THE PRESENTATION >
Staff Recognition: Celebrating School Lunch Heroes
Learn some new and creative ways to show appreciation to your food service staff. Along with discussing benefits of rewarding exceptional work, we will share state and national awards that are available.
Key Area:
Communications/Marketing
Speaker:
Leah Erke, Outreach Associate, University of Illinois Extension
4:35pm - 5:05pm | Educational Sessions
Utilizing the Food Buying Guide with Scratch Cooking
Have a non-standardized recipe? Need to calculate creditable grains/meat/meat alternatives to meet meal pattern requirements? WE CAN HELP! In this session, we will demonstrate how to break down a recipe, while using the food buying guide with scratch cooking.
Key Area:
Nutrition
Speakers:
Connie Crawley, Food Service Director, Lincoln District 27
Paula Crawford, Assistant Food Service Director, Lincoln District 27
VIEW THE PRESENTATION >
Utilizing the Cafeteria as a Learning Center
Use your lunchroom to share information on the benefits of following a balanced diet and trying new foods! Learn quick and easy methods to share educational facts on your menu or via social media. Learn new techniques to promote nutrition within the cafeteria and throughout the community.
Key Area:
Communications/Marketing
Speaker:
6:00pm - 6:30pm | Cocktail Reception
6:30pm - 8:00pm | Dinner and Awards
8:00pm - 9:00pm | Entertainment
DAY TWO - Thursday, June 22, 2023
8:00am - 9:00am | Breakfast & ILSNA Business Meeting
9:00am - 10:00am | Educational Sessions
SNF LEAD to Succeed™ - Your Conflict Style Inventory
Conflict is common in the workplace and is something many of us look to avoid but having the
proper tools to deal with conflict can make all the difference when it eventually arises. This 1-
hour training explores five different conflict management styles and how each is used to
approach difficult conversations with coworkers and/or stakeholders. This training will provide
participants with effective tools to approach conflict in the workplace to achieve more positive
outcomes.
Key Area:
Administration
Speaker:
Sandra Voss, Food Services Director, Arlington Heights SD 25
ISBE Update
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Nutrition Department administers a variety of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) child nutrition programs. Attend this session and receive the most up to date information available on the USDA School Nutrition Programs and upcoming ISBE projects.
Key Area:
Administration
Speaker:
Roxanne Ramage, Principal Consultant, Illinois State Board of Education
VIEW THE PRESENTATION >
A Farm to School Primer
Local food procurement grants are coming. Are you ready? Understand the basics of Farm to School programming and how to connect it to your lunch program, school and community. Learn the basic methods of locating and procuring local foods so you can best utilize upcoming Farm to School Procurement grant funds.
Key Area:
Nutrition
Speaker:
Diane Chapeta, Illinois Farm to School Network Program Manager, Seven Generations Ahead
VIEW THE PRESENTATION >
10:15am - 11:15am | Educational Sessions
How to Market Your Program
Learn how to effectively market your school nutrition program and increase participation through marketing. Discover the latest strategies for creating buzz around your menu, engaging with students and parents and maximizing the impact of your program. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your program's impact!
Key Area:
Communications/Marketing
Speaker:
Kim Ziarko, Solution Engineer, PrimeroEdge
VIEW THE PRESENTATION >
How Can I Help?
Join in as we highlight ways school nutrition professionals, peers and industry partners can leverage relationships and help one another, while also creating greater value in school meal programs. This guided panel discussion will shine light into ways operators can strategically work with others in the school nutrition community to improve meal programs and better serve students.
Key Area:
Operations
Speakers:
Gretchen Ernst, Education Sales Manager, Gordon Food Service
Mattie Horwitch, K12 and Healthcare Sales Specialist, Donovan Food Brokerage
Norman Perea, Key Account Manager K-12, Rich's Products
Joanna Rewerts, Director of Food and Nutrition Services, McLean CUSD 5
Kymberly Wroble, Non-commercial Business Solutions Specialist, Gordon Food Service
VIEW THE PRESENTATION >
ISBE Question Hour
Conference attendees from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Nutrition Department will be available during this session to address any questions you might have regarding the overall administration of the School Nutrition Programs. We look forward to meeting you. Please stop by anytime to ask a question. This session will be a continuation from the ISBE Update, so we can address individual questions regarding the programs.
Key Area:
Administration
Speaker:
ISBE Nutrition Department
11:15am - 1:15pm | Exhibit Hall/Food Show
1:30pm - 3:00pm | Closing Keynote
Next Up Talk Show Episode: Plant Based
Looking to be edutained? Look no further! NxtGen Network is bringing a talk show, Next Up, to the closing keynote! Join representatives from sustainable and plant-based companies, Marlon Gordon from NxtGen Network, key leaders from ILSNA - and maybe even… YOU for 90 minutes of information, education, and FUN! This event will be filmed in a live-in-front-of-a-studio-audience style complete with audience interaction and filming cues! You won’t want to miss this behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to film a talk show!
Key Area:
Nutrition
Speakers:
Marlon Gordon, Founder of CEO, NxtGen Network
3:00pm - 3:15pm | Closing Remarks